Iemanja

Iemanjá is the patron saint of fishermen. For religions of African origin, such as Candomblé and Umbanda, it is she who decides the fate of all those who enter the sea. She is also considered the “Brazilian Aphrodite”, the goddess of love to whom lovers turn in their love quests.

Legend has it that Iemanjá, daughter of Olokun, the ruler of the seas, received a potion from her father to help her escape from possible dangers. After a while, Iemanjá married Olofin-Oduduá, with whom she had ten children, who later became orixás.

For breastfeeding all her children, Iemanjá got huge breasts. She felt ashamed, especially after her husband made fun of her for this reason. Irritated and sad, Iemanjá decided to leave her husband and go after happiness.

On this journey, she fell in love with King Okerê. To accept marrying him, Iemanjá asked Okerê never to make fun of her huge breasts. However, after getting drunk, the king began to mock her breasts, and Iemanjá fled.

The king tried to chase after her to apologize, but the sea queen used the potion her father gave her to escape her husband. The potion turned her into a river, which flowed into the sea.

Afraid of losing his wife, Okerê turned into a mountain to prevent the river from reaching the sea, and Iemanjá could return to it.

However, Iemanjá asked her son Xangô for help, who with lightning, split the mountain in half, allowing the river to follow its path. Thus, Iemanjá met the ocean and became the queen of the sea.
Iemanjá in religious syncretism

With religious syncretism, Iemanjá corresponds, in Catholicism, to Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes, Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Nossa Senhora das Candeias, Nossa Senhora da Piedade and the Virgin Mary.